ROCKFORD — Police are calling a double shooting of a Rockford couple an aggravated battery with a firearm.

Mark Birmingham calls it “a murder attempt.”

Mark was shot three times. His wife, Tammy, was shot once. They consider themselves fortunate.

Within 12 yards of a blue “Neighborhood Watch” sign tacked to a curbside utility pole, 24 bullets were fired at 4 a.m. March 24 into the bedroom window of the couple’s house on 16th Avenue as they slept.

Any bullets that didn’t strike the couple passed through walls, struck furniture and damaged the structure.

“My wife told me to call 911, but I couldn’t,” Mark said Monday afternoon after arriving home from the hospital with his arm in a sling.

Over the past week, the couple had multiple surgeries. Tammy was released Tuesday to a rehabilitation center, police said.

No arrests have been made, and police haven’t determined a motive for the shooting.

Just as disturbing is the absence of a public outcry and a lack of information from the public to the police.

“We do have a couple of tips we’re following up on, but it’s not a lot there,” Welsh said.

The couple and at least one of their adult children were renting the house. The family has since moved out.

Tamika Haynes was one of the few neighbors willing to speak out Tuesday about the crime.

“We haven’t had anything like this before,” said the mother of three children (ages 14, 10 and 8) who has lived in the neighborhood for three years. “Hopefully, we can keep it safe like it (has) been.”

If detectives are to solve the crime, the public’s help will be needed.

“Anyone who has information, even the smallest piece of information may be the piece to solve the puzzle,” Welsh said.

If you know anything about the shooting, call police, 815-987-5824, or Crime Stoppers, 815-963-7867.